Manchester City 2 Arsenal 0: City player ratings as Manchester City claim the Carabao Cup | OneFootball

Manchester City 2 (Nico O’Reilly 60′, 64′)

Arsenal 0

Here are the City player ratings and match report as Manchester City won the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win over Arsenal in today’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley. A second half brace from Nico O’Reilly was enough to see Pep Guardiola’s side win the Carabao Cup and cap off a superb performance from City at Wembley.

When the starting lineups were announced, Pep Guardiola had made four changes to the starting eleven that was beaten by Real Madrid. James Trafford, Nathan Ake, Nico O’Reilly and Antoine Semenyo replaced Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ruben Dias, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders. Sam Lee revealed for The Athletic that Ruben Dias had sustained a hamstring injury which ruled him out of today’s match.

First half.

The game kicked off with both teams looking to establish a foothold in the game. Manchester City were trying to maintain possession in the opening five minutes. Arsenal appeared to sitting deep defensively and looking to get in behind Manchester City’s high defensive line when the opportunity arose. Mikel Arteta’s side would get in behind the City defence as Viktor Gyökeres got in behind but his cross was cleared by Abdukodir Khusanov.

Arsenal created the first chance of the match. Bukayo Saka stood up Nico O’Reilly on Arsenal’s right wing. He played a ball centrally to Martin Zubimendi, who picked out Kai Havertz in the City area in a good position. Havertz hit a shot straight at James Trafford, who made a strong save. The rebound fell to Bukayo Saka, whose first shot was saved. Saka seized on the rebound, and Trafford made his third save to keep Arsenal and Saka out.

Arsenal had settled better than Pep Guardiola’s side in the first 15 minutes of the match. The Gunners had more possession and created chances to begin the game. Manchester City looked nervous and had trouble keeping possession in the game’s opening stages.

The first City attack of note came in the 20th minute. Pep Guardiola’s side played their way through Arsenal’s press and Matheus Nunes was found in space on the right. Nunes played a ball to Antoine Semenyo who had the opportunity to get at Arsenal left-back Piero Hincapié. Semenyo got around the Arsenal man and played a superb cross into the Arsenal area. Semenyo’s cross just evaded Erling Haaland as City had their most moment of prominence in the match.

Manchester City grow into the game as the match begins to settle.

Pep Guardiola’s side did have a good spell of possession between the 20th and 30th minutes. They dropped deep and forced Arsenal into one error when Mikel Arteta’s side played out from the back. Despite City’s possession play, they failed to create a chance. However, Antoine Semenyo up against Piero Hincapié on the right did look like an avenue that Manchester City could exploit.

As the game entered the final five minutes of the first half, it had become a cagey affair. Neither team was creating any chances as both backlines were on top. Arsenal’s best route to goal seemed to be set pieces, and City were struggling to break down Arsenal’s defence. Mikel Arteta’s side was set up to keep Pep Guardiola’s side out of the middle of the pitch and had great success doing so in the first half.

Erling Haaland headed a chance over the bar on the stroke of halftime. Manchester City pinned Arsenal deep in their own area with a sustained spell of possession. Eventually, City found Antoine Semenyo on the edge of the area. The Ghana international drove into the box and played a quality cross to the back post. Semenyo’s cross found Erling Haaland, who headed the ball over the bar under pressure from the Arsenal defence.

Erling Haaland’s header would be the final significant moment of the first half. The game was a cagey affair, but Pep Guardiola’s side did grow into the match as the first half wore on. You did get the sense that one goal might win the game for either side, given the quality of defending that was on show in the first half.

Second half.

Manchester City began the second half brightly. Arsenal had a corner in the 49th minute, which the City defence dealt with. Pep Guardiola’s side countered with pace, and a superb Matheus Nunes ball found Jeremy Doku with acres of space on the left. Doku chased the ball down as Arsenal keeper Kepa came outside of his area to try and deal with the situation. Kepa was beaten by Doku and dragged the Belgian international back.

Strangely, with Doku clear of Kepa, the referee called the play back to show Kepa a yellow card. It was a strange decision by the referee, which halted Manchester City’s attacking momentum. Antoine Semenyo wasted the free kick from a great position in what rounded off a baffling passage of play.

After a strong spell of possession and play from Manchester City, Antoine Semenyo flashed a left-footed shot wide of the far post in the 57th minute. Pep Guardiola’s side were beginning to drop Arsenal and were the stronger side. A minute later Rayan Cherki would have a shot blocked from a great position after Jeremy Doku picked out Cherki with a good pass after a driving run at Ben White.

Manchester City take the lead which they thoroughly deserved on the hour mark. GET IN!!!!!!

Pep Guardiola’s side would get their reward for their dominance after halftime in the 60th minute. Bernardo Silva played in Rayan Cherki on the right, and Cherki played in a cross which was straight at Kepa. The Arsenal keeper dropped the ball into a dangerous position, and Nico O’Reilly was on hand to head Manchester City into a deserved lead. It was a goal that City deserved as they had dominated the match after halftime.

Nico O’Reilly does it again as City make their move!!!!!

Manchester City took a 2-0 lead in the 64th minute. Jeremy Doku picked up the ball in acres of space on the left wing. Doku took his time to assess his options and played the ball across to Rodri. Rodri moved inside and played the ball behind him to the run of Matheus Nunes on the right. Nunes had plenty of time to pick out a cross and he picked out Nico O’Reilly at the back post. O’Reilly headed past Kepa to double Manchester City’s lead. City had upped the ante, and Arsenal couldn’t live with them as the game unfolded.

Manchester City dropped into their defensive shape as the game ticked over the 70th minute. Arsenal were enjoying their first spell of possession of the second half following Nico O’Reilly’s second goal. Riccardo Calafiori would head a Declan Rice free kick straight at James Trafford in the 73rd minute as it looked like set pieces were Arsenal’s main attacking threat.

Riccardo Calafiori would hit the post in the 78th minute. The Arsenal left-back was found in space on the left-hand side of the City area. Calafiori tool a touch to set himself for a volley and his left-footed volley beat James Trafford but hit the post and went wide.

As the game entered the final five minutes, the Manchester City fans were making all of the noise. Pep Guardiola’s side were containing the threat of Arsenal and had seemingly taken the sting out of the game. Mikel Arteta’s team had a long throw-in in the 87th minute, but the City defense dealt with that. Arsenal recycled the ball, and Noni Madueke played a cross to the back post. Gabriel Jesus got a header on goal that looped onto the crossbar and stayed out.

Outside of a Jeremy Doku shot that flashed wide of the post in the 90th minute, the final four minutes of the match played out without incident. Manchester City thoroughly deserved their victory and today’s result, and Manchester City’s Carabao Cup success could potentially become a pivotal moment in the development of this City side and potentially this season.

City player ratings.

James Trafford-9/10: Trafford didn’t have a lot of work to do during today’s match, except at the beginning. He made a superb triple save to deny Arsenal an early goal, which was huge in the scheme of the match.

Matheus Nunes-8.5/10: Nunes was superb at right-back. Defended well and as City upped the ante after halftime he was superb going forward. Grabbed an assist for Nico O’Reilly’s second goal which capped off a great performance.

Abdukodir Khusanov-7.5/10: Started nervously but grew into the game well.

Nathan Ake-9/10: A brilliant display from Ake. He made several crucial interventions and led the City defence brilliantly.

Nico O’Reilly-10/10: Bagged a brace and his performance from left-back was brilliant. Arsenal couldn’t contain him to their peril.

Rodri-9/10: Manchester City’s midfield general was absolutely superb in midfield.

Bernardo Silva-8/10: A proper captain’s performance from Bernardo Silva today.

Antoine Semenyo-8/10: The Ghana international was Manchester City’s most dangerous attacking weapon in the first half. He had the Arsenal defence on the back foot throughout today’s match.

Rayan Cherki-8.5/10: Another top display from Cherki. He isn’t afraid of the moment and that was on show throughout today’s match as he played an important role in Manchester City’s win.

Jeremy Doku-9/10: The Belgian winger was absolutely brilliant after halftime. His pace and dribbling ability kept Arsenal pinned back and they couldn’t handle him.

Erling Haaland-7.5/10: I loved Haaland’s game. He was up for the physical battle and although the chances didn’t fall his way he never stopped working for his team.

Substitutes.

Phil Foden-N/A: Not on enough to mark.